LATEST: Gardai hiring 300 Garda Reserve recruits

People of various nationalities, skill sets, ages and backgrounds are being urged to join the Garda Reserve as part of a fresh recruitment drive launched today.

An Garda Síochána is appealing for new applicants to its popular Reserve programme as the organisation seeks to diversify its ranks further under its Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

The application process to fill new Reserve places opened today and will run for three weeks. People from 18 to 60 can apply. The aim is to recruit 300 Reserves in 2017.

This recruitment drive follows a Government commitment to increase the strength of the Garda Reserve to 2,000 by 2021.

Garda Reservists are voluntary members of the police service. The programme affords members of the public an opportunity to develop hands-on policing experience in their locality.

Tasks involve dealing with public order incidents, high-visibility patrolling, traffic management, attending major events, carrying out administrative duties, and providing general support to full-time Garda members.

‘Give Something Back’ is the theme of the three-week recruitment campaign with people interested in volunteering to work in their local community being encouraged to apply.

New figures show that the Reserve programme is being used by many as a stepping stone to a full-time career in the Gardaí.

Since 2006, more than 200 Garda Reservists have gone on to pursue full-time careers in the organisation, including 110 since last year alone.

Anyone interested in applying to the Garda Reserves should visit publicjobs.ie. The closing date is April 13.